Simsbury's Mark Singleton hopes to bring Hartford-based choral group Voce to town

SIMSBURY — One of the town's newest residents, Mark Singleton, said he feels the constant struggle of being a professional musician — a lack of stability.

"You have to deal with this constant change and not knowing what the future really holds for you," said Singleton, artistic director of the Hartford-based classical choral group Voce.

In Simsbury, he finds beauty and quiet, and bringing Voce to town "seems natural," Singleton said. In addition to performing in town, he said Voce could be used to educate.

"There's been a long history of support for the arts in the town," said Tom Cooke, director of administrative services for the town and member of Voce. "I think certainly Voce is very interested in becoming a bigger part of the Simsbury musical community."

Cooke said he has been in talks with Simsbury High School choral teacher Colleen Thompson about doing a workshop with the choral students.

"It's a perfect example of what Voce can do — show students of all ages that singing at a professional level is a lifetime activity," he said. "In my view, it teaches as much or more about teamwork and cooperation as any sport."

Cooke said Singleton is a "remarkable" conductor. He said Singleton checks his ego at the door and brings out the best in every musician.

For Singleton, music was a family business. He said both of his parents were choral conductors, and he got a degree in cello performance at Missouri's William Jewell College.

He said he began attending the University of Connecticut in 1999 and ultimately got a master's degree in conducting. He later served on the faculty as conductor of the Concert Choir, Collegium Musicum and the Women's Chorus.

"You see the light bulbs come on in their eyes and they have these great hopes," Singleton said, of working with college-level singers. "And that's intoxicating. It, in turn, gives you hope."

In addition to being Voce's artistic director, Singleton serves as the director of music at Hartford's Immanuel Congregational Church and chorus director for the Eastern Connecticut Symphony Orchestra.

Voce's new CD, "Voce Live," will be released on Saturday and can be purchased online at voceinc.org The group will also perform its "Music of the Spheres — Volume II" concert at 7:30 p.m. on April 18 at Immanuel Congregational Church in Hartford.